Gillingham manager Mark Stimson admits his players’ performances have left him baffled and he’s demanding they start doing the business where it matters.

Stimson, pictured, has seen quality in his squad on the training ground but on the main arena they’ve continually failed to produce.

Saturday’s 2-0 reverse at Carlisle, their 13th away league defeat of the season, left the Gills 18th in League 1 - just two points above the relegation places.

"Some of the players’ performances I didn’t see coming," said Stimson.

"We had three good results and a couple of good training sessions in the week and to go and play like that, you think, ‘wow, where did that come from?’

"It’s about players now having the bottle to show what they can do on the training ground on the pitch.

"It’s easy doing it on the training ground when there is nothing on it, but we want them to play the same way when there are a few people in the ground.

"It’s just that sometimes they do strange things. That’s frustrating and it baffles me."

Stimson played Chris Dickson, Simeon Jackson and Rene Howe up front on Saturday and still the goals wouldn’t come, despite having a strike-force that looks more than capable at League 1 level.

"You have to go and make it happen and the three of them weren’t retaining the ball well enough," Stimson said.

"I know they can but I’m sure with a week of training and getting back to their home ground they’ll give their best."

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